Did no one bother to notice that the dude is on one leg right now and barely played at all during the clay season? So, to answer your question, Tennis Magazine: NO.
This is what cracks me up about Tennis Magazine. With storylines morphing on a daily and weekly basis, how can a monthly tennis magazine really stay relevant? Their Grand Slam preview issues are pure crap because by the time they come out, half of the stuff they write about on the players is wrong. They tap players who are slumping and they ignore players who are on a tear. Meanwhile, during non Slam season, their cover stories come out of nowhere. Who was on the cover of their March 2009 issue? JJ, with the headline "Jelena Jankovic Tries To Make A Major Move." I mean, yeah, she is, but how is that at all timely or relevant at that moment?
I mean, maybe they've realized that they can't compete with the internet and tennis blogs in terms of disseminating news. Obviously that's entirely true. There's no reason to print scores or anything. But even if that's the case, if you don't focus on the storylines of the moment how do you stay relevant to true diehard tennis fans?
Besides, the advantage that journalists have over us wee bloggers is that you have access. You can talk to the players, agents, coaches, etc. Bloggers can't really interact or get inside information unless that information is already out there. So use that to create content that is above and beyond what those of us who can only sit and scroll through our RSS readers can regurgitate.
The last thought I have is that Tennis Magazine has virtually given up covering professional tennis in any meaningful way and instead focuses on being a "player's magazine". Half of each issue is dedicated to instruction, gear reviews, tennis rule interpretation, sports psychology, etc. If that's the case that's fine. But I don't see why can't do both and it doesn't excuse the tour coverage being flat out wrong/irrelevant.
For my money, Inside Tennis is FAR superior. And they're able to be a monthly magazine that stays relevant and tells me shit that I don't already know. Sure, it's not as glossy and pretty as Tennis, but the content is night and day.
All I know is that for some reason I always get excited when I see Tennis Magazine in my mailbox. But 2 minutes later, after I've flipped through it faster than US Weekly, I wonder why I bother.
This is what cracks me up about Tennis Magazine. With storylines morphing on a daily and weekly basis, how can a monthly tennis magazine really stay relevant? Their Grand Slam preview issues are pure crap because by the time they come out, half of the stuff they write about on the players is wrong. They tap players who are slumping and they ignore players who are on a tear. Meanwhile, during non Slam season, their cover stories come out of nowhere. Who was on the cover of their March 2009 issue? JJ, with the headline "Jelena Jankovic Tries To Make A Major Move." I mean, yeah, she is, but how is that at all timely or relevant at that moment?
I mean, maybe they've realized that they can't compete with the internet and tennis blogs in terms of disseminating news. Obviously that's entirely true. There's no reason to print scores or anything. But even if that's the case, if you don't focus on the storylines of the moment how do you stay relevant to true diehard tennis fans?
Besides, the advantage that journalists have over us wee bloggers is that you have access. You can talk to the players, agents, coaches, etc. Bloggers can't really interact or get inside information unless that information is already out there. So use that to create content that is above and beyond what those of us who can only sit and scroll through our RSS readers can regurgitate.
The last thought I have is that Tennis Magazine has virtually given up covering professional tennis in any meaningful way and instead focuses on being a "player's magazine". Half of each issue is dedicated to instruction, gear reviews, tennis rule interpretation, sports psychology, etc. If that's the case that's fine. But I don't see why can't do both and it doesn't excuse the tour coverage being flat out wrong/irrelevant.
For my money, Inside Tennis is FAR superior. And they're able to be a monthly magazine that stays relevant and tells me shit that I don't already know. Sure, it's not as glossy and pretty as Tennis, but the content is night and day.
All I know is that for some reason I always get excited when I see Tennis Magazine in my mailbox. But 2 minutes later, after I've flipped through it faster than US Weekly, I wonder why I bother.
